Photo postcard of the Watkins Brothers and the Mother's Best Red Hat Kids, circa 1950s, WVOK, Birmingham, Alabama. Pictured left to right are Curley Fagan, Richard Watkins, Bobby Watkins, announcer Joe Rumore, Jimmie Watkins, Robert [?], and Tommy…
Two photographs of radio personality Dan Brennan and his wife Clara, Birmingham, Alabama. The first shows the young couple at radio station WVOK. In the second, the couple embraces; lipstick kisses adorn the back of the photo.Dan and Clara Brennan…
Photo of radio personality, businessman, and concert promoter Dan Brennan (1930-2020), WVOK, Birmingham, Alabama. Born in Brickyard, Alabama, Brennan — along with his older brothers Bill and Cyril — belonged to a powerful family of radio…
Newspaper advertisement for Bob's Supper Club (Birmingham, Alabama), featuring Johnnie Hayden, Lucky Leon Davis, Hardy Matthews, Westbrook Walker, and Art Harris.Huntsville Mirror, March 23, 1957.
Newspaper advertisement for the Downbeat Club, Ensley, Alabama, featuring Ike "Boss Man" Williams and His Collegians and Lucky Leon Davis and His All-Stars.Huntsville Mirror, November 26, 1960.
Newspaper advertisement for Reco Lynn, "Mr. Voice of the South," and "Lucky" Leon Davis, "'The Singing Drummer' And His All-Star Band," Club 401, Powderly, Alabama.Birmingham Mirror, March 4, 1961.
Newspaper advertisement for "The Big Rhythm & Blues Show of '58" at the Madison Nite Spot. Featuring The Midnighters, The 5 Royales, Little Willie John, Bo Diddley, Al Jackson, Tiny Topsy, Etta James, the Cal Green Orchestra, and The…
Newspaper advertisement for Bob's Savoy Cafe (AKA Bob's Savoy, AKA The Little Savoy), "A New Deal In Dining Entertainment," featuring the Savoy Syncopators, Weekly Review, Birmingham, Alabama, March 16, 1946.
Newspaper advertisement for Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy, featuring Floyd Smith and Beverly White with the Jubilaires. Weekly Review, June 29, 1946.
Newspaper article by J. B. "Jay" Sims on the retirement of John T. "Fess" Whatley. One of Whatley's early students, Sims was an early member of the Bama State Collegians; a bandleader, musician, and emcee; an educator; and a longtime social and…
Newspaper photo and caption: "Negro debutantes of 1950 presented" at Birmingham Municipal Auditorium: "Fess Whatley's Orchestra furnished music."Birmingham News, December 23, 1950.
Newspaper advertisement for the Marva Louis Popularity Contest and Dance, featuring Fess Whatley at Birmingham's Masonic Temple.Weekly Review, June 1, 1946.
As this and other advertisements indicate, bandleader Sonny Blount -- performing here with "His 10-pc. Colored Orchestra" at the posh white venue, Queenstown Lake -- had by 1945 become popular with both Black and white audiences in Birmingham. Early…